When Chinese workers built the Tazara Railway connecting Tanzania and Zambia 40 years ago, people in those countries gained greater freedom of movement, and the link helped establish a larger market that provided a bulwark against the apartheid states of South Africa and Namibia.

Now a large number of new cross-border networks are being built to unleash Africa's market potential, unite its peoples and establish a new role in international politics. Integration and unification have become the buzzwords of an era in which China can again play a crucial role.

As part of the January celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Union, the 20th summit of government leaders was given the theme "Pan-Africanism and Africa Renaissance".

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chairwoman of the AU Commission, told delegates that the unity of purpose, sacrifice and solidarity shown by the African nations was a key factor in the decolonization of the continent and the dismantling of apartheid.

Zuma said the motive for reviewing the same topic after half a century was that "the spirit of pan-Africanism and the ideals of the African Renaissance brought us to where we are today and must propel us toward an integrated, people-centered, prosperous Africa at peace with itself".

Facing future challenges

Africa will face many challenges in the future and by contributing investment and the means to improve the infrastructure, China will play a crucial role as a firm supporter of the continent's renaissance and unification, according to Zhai Jun, deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

"We must support, strongly support, African integration and unification, because only unification will allow Africa to become stronger," he said.

Africa has made great progress in recent years, but the reality is that conflicts in some areas are running parallel to economic improvements, said Zhai.

"Economic affairs have been the focal point of Sino-African cooperation, but we are further strengthening our ties with African countries in building peace and security," he said.

"As the world's largest developing country and a responsible power, we must play a vital role in ensuring peace and security in Africa."

Ngari Gituku, editor of Diplomat East Africa, said, there is a need to promote strong pro-African sentiment to avoid a situation where Africans will be reduced to bystander status for a second time by new colonial manoeuvres and tactics, especially those of her former colonisers.

If China is to contribute to the development of the continent and also protect its own long-term interests in Africa, it will have a special role to play in accelerating the process.

"African countries will be unable to gain a voice in international politics, unless they are unified," said Li Beifen, China's former ambassador to Benin and Tunisia, who added that Africa's unification and development are in line with Chinese interests, because both sides speak for developing countries.

"We have similar experiences on many issues, such as colonial history, the course of development and future challenges, including climate change. Thus, a more integrated Africa, devoid of foreign intervention, will help developing countries to be heard on the international stage," she said.

While Chinese aid and investment in Africa have largely focused on infrastructure construction work to facilitate the development of African countries, critics have complained that China is only interested in building roads to areas that boast rich natural resources.

However, Chinese construction companies are participating in the construction of a trans-continental transport network to help fulfill the aspirations of pan-Africanists.

"If we seek to develop our continent, then we need the involvement of China," said Elham Ibrahim, commissioner for infrastructure and energy of the African Union Commission. "Especially in my area, infrastructure and energy industry, China should, and could, play a big role."

The Horn of Africa is eager for a trans-border road that would connect Addis Ababa and Nairobi. The road would be part of a larger plan to link Alexandria in Egypt in the north of the continent with Cape Town in South Africa, and Chinese construction companies are working hard to build the road.

"The A2 highway project is designed to connect the two most important cities in the horn region," said Liu Hui, chairman of the construction company China Wuyi Kenya Co. "The project has been divided into several sections; my company has finished one part and is now taking over work on another section, from Turbi to Moyale, on the border of Ethiopia and Kenya."

Having worked on infrastructure projects in Africa for more than a decade and witnessed the development of the continent, Liu said African countries have differing levels of development, which means the infrastructure conditions vary as well.

"Roads and railways are essential to fill the gap and facilitate the market and communications between countries," he said. "Once connected, human and natural resources and trade will begin to flow."

Construction of the 7-metre-wide, 129.63-km-long road will take around 36 months, but the company will also be responsible for its maintenance for a further two years.

The project cuts through some of the toughest conditions in Kenya, the Gobi region in the north of the country. "Ours is the hardest part of the entire project, because there is no water, no usable soil and no logistics supplement," said Li Shoujie, deputy director of Jiangxi Zhongmei Engineering Construction (Kenya) Co.

"People tried to build a road, but were daunted by the harsh environment. However, the main virtues of Chinese companies are hard work and endurance, so we have to make this vision come true," he said.

"There was once a road in this region and on this route, but it was too poor to be convenient or efficient, so it was really just a nominal road on the map," he added.

"Infrastructure and energy serve the most fundamental and basic roles in establishing a more integrated and united Africa," said the AUC's Ibrahim. "Without infrastructure, we will not be able to achieve the objectives set by African countries."

She said that connecting people is the most important factor in facilitating regional and continental integration, through improved transport links and telecommunications, so people can meet and work together.

As China already boasts a number of successful large-scale construction projects, the country has proved its ability to build transnational projects in Africa.

"We have the nine corridors of the Trans-Africa Highway, including highways from Cairo to Cape Town and Algeria to Lagos. Now we are trying to complete these projects, which began several decades ago. Admittedly, there are still many missing links and some of them need to be rehabilitated or upgraded to meet the standards of international highways," said Ibrahim.

However, finance remains a problem, one that requires the support of the international community. Thus China's future aid and investment in infrastructure construction, especially transportation networks, will be vital to Africa's successful integration, she said.

"Africa has so many countries but inter-nation trade still remains at a low level and the market is small. However, this doesn't suggest there is no need for greater communication, on the contrary, it indicates great potential," said Yao Guimei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Research Institute for West Asian and North African Affairs.

"The Chinese government is encouraging its companies and financial institutions to join this process, to join bilateral or multilateral projects," she added. "Some of the companies have chosen pivotal African cities as bases from which they can radiate to other places."

Integration is a life or death choice for Africa in terms of sustainable and rapid economic growth, according to Rene N'Guettia Kouassi, the AUC's director of economic affairs.

"Despite the global financial crisis, the African economy is in a good position. A lot has been done, but a lot remains to be done to achieve our goal, which is to build a 'State of Africa'," he said.

Under such a state, the continent would have a common currency and financial institutions such as a pan-African Bank, an African Monetary Fund and an African Stock Exchange.

The European Union implemented a common currency 13 years ago, which resulted in a deepening of economic integration among member countries. However, the ongoing sovereign debt crisis has now pushed several countries to the edge of bankruptcy.

"Africa will definitely learn the lessons of the EU and elsewhere to make our integration safer and more efficient," said Kouassi. "In Africa, we are undertaking two crucial tasks, economic integration and political integration, which move in parallel."

No individual country is strong enough to face the global challenges alone, so Africa has to unite its strengths. Regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States, the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community serve as good examples of this, he said.

"They are implementing a single customs union, which means free movement of goods between countries and a single external tax for imports, which is convenient and attractive to foreign investors."

The AU is at the forefront of a plan to set up an African common market and customs union by 2019, he said. "An integrated Africa will be good for the outside world, including China, because there will be a common market with a common currency. The market will be there for investment from all investors and will be more convenient."

China has a large role to play in this process, he said, but urged greater understanding of the problems, such as the need for infrastructure development.

"The fruits of development and growth are not shared efficiently and may not reach the poor, so when China provides assistance, we should pay more attention to things such as this," he said.

Security is paramount

While China's interests are increasing dramatically in Africa, the country has to consider the security of its investment, as tough lessons have been delivered by the recent conflicts in Libya and Mali, in which Chinese businesses and interests have been affected.

"Regional integration should be premised on peace and stability.Development is crucial for peace - and peace is essential for development," said Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations' secretary-general, at the opening ceremony of the AU summit in January.

While certain regions, including the two Sudans, Mali and Somalia, remain locked in conflict, local forces will provide a sustainable and effective way of ensuring security, but China can still play an effective and influential role.

China's efforts on peace and security in Africa will be conducted through cooperation with the AU, said Deng Yanting, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The integration of the African security forces must deepen and the AU will be a leading player in this, so China will also contribute to this process," he said. "The AU has established a relatively complete military institution and has proved its capability and efficiency in the conflicts in the two Sudans and Somalia, which is a good beginning."

However, the integration of security remains at a primary stage and is focused on the economy, he said.

"China should also offer support in this field, not only to facilitate the process of African integration, but also to protect its own interests," he said. "Otherwise, there could be another 'Libya story', where interests and investment could evaporate overnight."